Why rights activists object to the UID bill
Delhi-based law researcher to explain the loopholes in the proposed Unique Identity Number bill in its present form at a public talk in the city today
T S Sreenivasa Raghavan
Posted On Friday, December 17, 2010 at 07:36:40 AM
Hundreds of rights activists and advocates who stand for individual and collective freedom have joined hands to defeat the proposed National Identification Authority of India (NIAI) Bill 2010, popularly known as the UID Bill, in its present form. The latest draft of the bill was issued last month.
As part of their move, the Environment, Social Justice and Governance Initiatives Environment Support Group Trust is organising a public talk on the implications of the UID project in the country at the Institute of Agricultural Technologists on Queens Road on Friday at 3.30 pm.
The talk will be delivered by a Delhi-based law researcher, Usha Ramanathan, who will also answer questions pertaining to the NIAI Bill 2010.
Some points to be raised at the meet
» The bill does not deal with entitlements, benefits and services - the strategic overview of the UID number/aadhaar project specifies that the UIAI is not concerned with rights and entitlements.
» On the extra-territoriality clause, there is the possibility of an offence or contravention committed under this act outside India by any person. The Wikileaks experience shows anyone, anywhere may hack into, steal or tamper with the Central Identities Repository (CIDR) - the database of UID numbers.
» The clause dealing with authentication is not foolproof. The essential tests required to establish that the authentication through fingerprints can effectively be done over a population of 1.2 billion have not even been done hypothetically.
» The clause dealing with biometric information virtually empowers the authority concerned to expand the attributes that may have to be given during enrolment or at a later date.
» The clause that the authority concerned may engage one or more entities to establish and maintain the CIDR involves many issues like violation of rights including that of privacy and security that are involved in the agreements/MoUs.
» Demographic information currently includes name, age, gender and address of an individual. It specifically does not include information on race, religion, caste, tribe, ethnicity, language, income or health. However, this could get amended by law.
» The clause relating to security and confidentiality of information is too loose.
» The clause pertaining to disclosure of information could be misused by the officers of the central government
»On payment of fee for authentication, nothing in the bill explains what parameters the payment of fees should be within.
Delhi-based law researcher to explain the loopholes in the proposed Unique Identity Number bill in its present form at a public talk in the city today
T S Sreenivasa Raghavan
Posted On Friday, December 17, 2010 at 07:36:40 AM
Hundreds of rights activists and advocates who stand for individual and collective freedom have joined hands to defeat the proposed National Identification Authority of India (NIAI) Bill 2010, popularly known as the UID Bill, in its present form. The latest draft of the bill was issued last month.
As part of their move, the Environment, Social Justice and Governance Initiatives Environment Support Group Trust is organising a public talk on the implications of the UID project in the country at the Institute of Agricultural Technologists on Queens Road on Friday at 3.30 pm.
The talk will be delivered by a Delhi-based law researcher, Usha Ramanathan, who will also answer questions pertaining to the NIAI Bill 2010.
Some points to be raised at the meet
» The bill does not deal with entitlements, benefits and services - the strategic overview of the UID number/aadhaar project specifies that the UIAI is not concerned with rights and entitlements.
» On the extra-territoriality clause, there is the possibility of an offence or contravention committed under this act outside India by any person. The Wikileaks experience shows anyone, anywhere may hack into, steal or tamper with the Central Identities Repository (CIDR) - the database of UID numbers.
» The clause dealing with authentication is not foolproof. The essential tests required to establish that the authentication through fingerprints can effectively be done over a population of 1.2 billion have not even been done hypothetically.
» The clause dealing with biometric information virtually empowers the authority concerned to expand the attributes that may have to be given during enrolment or at a later date.
» The clause that the authority concerned may engage one or more entities to establish and maintain the CIDR involves many issues like violation of rights including that of privacy and security that are involved in the agreements/MoUs.
» Demographic information currently includes name, age, gender and address of an individual. It specifically does not include information on race, religion, caste, tribe, ethnicity, language, income or health. However, this could get amended by law.
» The clause relating to security and confidentiality of information is too loose.
» The clause pertaining to disclosure of information could be misused by the officers of the central government
»On payment of fee for authentication, nothing in the bill explains what parameters the payment of fees should be within.
